Chaos Theory- Blog 6

I thought our class discussion on synchronicity was enlightening and further explored the worldviews that others may have. I completely agree that in order to be an effective counselor, worldviews need to be taken into consideration and that the counselor should attempt to see the client’s situation through his/her worldview. What happens when the client’s perceptions are different than the dominant views? Do we as counselors try to educate the client or do we respect his/her perceptions of the situation? For example, a female client is adamant that women cannot work as a police officer because law enforcement is a male dominated field. Despite her desire to work in law enforcement, she does not pursue this career because of her belief dictated by religious values that women should remain at home or in female dominated careers.

On a personal note, I have a learning disability and I am aware that under the American Disabilities Act (ADA) I have an equal opportunity for employment. I bring this up because I recently received an email from learning services saying that companies in the Lancaster area are looking for individuals who fall under ADA to increase the company’s fulfillment of ADA requirements. I have mixed feelings about this email and it reminds me of our discussion many weeks ago about the low rates of employment of individuals with a disability (Brown, 2012). I am glad that companies want to incorporate this population in their work force, however motivation for this integration seems to be distorted. This raises the question do these companies have the resources to fully assist in the development (skills, self-growth, self-efficacy etc..) of these individuals and are these companies purely hiring this population of workers to meet a quota.

Bloch (2005) discusses Chaos theory and the nonlinear pathway that individuals can take in their career development. I really liked the descriptions of attractors because it labeled different career patterns that can occur for an individual. I thought it was interesting that strange attractors can be viewed by some as a synchronistic event or serendipity. I preferred this article’s description of synchronicity because it was described as an observable phenomenon that can happen to all individuals whereas in Guindon and Hanna’s (2002) article two out of the three criteria for synchronicity included a vision or a dream. Even though I am not spiritual, the spirituality component of Chaos theory gives an overall connection to all life forces and I find that this notion of connection is appropriate in the context of this theory. I also liked how “connectedness” or spirituality can be achieved through connectors. The use of connectors can be applied to individuals who are not spiritual since connectors are universal constructs.

 

Bloch, D. P. (2005). Complexity, Chaos, and Nonlinear Dynamics: A New Perspective on Career Development Theory. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 194-207.

 

Brown, D. (2012). Introduction to the Global, Economy, and Social Justice, and Career Development. In Career Information, Career Counseling, and Career Development (10th ed., pp. 2-23). Chapel Hill, SC: Pearson.

 

Guindon, M. H., & Hanna, F. J. (2002). Coincidence, Happenstance, Serendipity, Fate or the Hand of God: Case Studies in Synchronicity. The Career Development Quarterly, 50, 195-208.